Phonographic recording and reproducing device



Jul 15, 1952 C. HUENLICH ETAL PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I Filed Oct. 9, 1946 y 15, 1952 c. HUENLICH ET AL PHQNOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 TOR - CHARLES l-msnucp mv uru HEINRICH EMERAMAN u 'ITWENTOR 152. 1% J21 HARRIET ERAMANN SHWARZJXECUTRT? EZ TQRNEY so that the feed nut is reengaged by the spring I3. In the intermediate or neutral positiongof the lever the same is detentedby'the engagement of the roller [5 with a notch [6a in the cam l6., 7 Upon the return of the lever to recording position, the same sequence of operations occurs:

the feed nut being disengaged as the lever reaches neutral position and being reengage'd as the lever reaches recording position. 7 The carriage has an opening 22 at the 'front'i which there mounted a frame 23 for the translating device. This device is shown as being of the acoustical type-but no-unnecessary limitation of our invention as to the typethat is, acoustical or electrical-is intended. This frame comprises a plate 24'which overlies the opening and is held by screws (not shown) to the'carriage. Secured into a' central opening of this plate is a forwardly-extending .tube 25 for conveying sound to and from the device. This frame plate 24 carries three mounting rods which extend inwardly in directions across -'therecord 8, there beingv left'and right rods 26 and 2'! at" the top and one left rod 28 atthe bottom. Mounted on the top rods is a 'slide 29"and secured'to the center of this slide by the pivot 30 is a gimbal frame 3! (see Figure '6) This'gimbal frame carries a'pair of cone-pivots32 onfa-horizontal'axis parallel with the record. Thesepivots engage diametrically opposite points of a semispherical head 33, which is provided'at the endof a-t'ube 34 that leads to a sound box 35.""Pivotally embracing the-head 33 is a semispherical head 36a which constitutesone end-portion'of' a flared tube 36;

The other end of this tube slidably fits into-the 1 The sound box 35-comprises a' hollow casing made suitably of thermosetting plastic and hav- 4 sleeve and the frame plate 24, the rearward position of the sleeve being defined by the abutment of a lug 41, carried by the head 45a, against a stop 48. mounted 'on the frame'iiplate; Pivoted at 49 to the head'45a is an upstanding arm 50' the upper end of which lies between the inner end of the sleeve 4| and a cross pin 5i in the mounting rod 26 (Figure 3). Mounted fixedly on the central portion of this arm are two small disks 52 and 53 which are located one above'the other lengthwiseof the arm' to provide a cam face having a I central notch 54. Provided integrally on the col- 29 is not moved partly becausethe disk 52 is at 1 the lower half portion of, the armjand partly be- .cause the spring 46 is weaker thanthe'spring 40.

"Carried by the head 45a is'across pin 56 which forms acam elementfthat lies directly below the tube 34'of the sound box. On the lower side of the sound tube there is a depending rib 5'! which forms a second cam' element. This rib lies just ahead of the pin 56'wh'en'the device is in recording condition but as the pin is moved forwardly in response to the movement of the control lever [1 into neutral position it engages the rib and cams the sound box upwardly'to lift the recording stylus from the record. As the control lever is moved-from neutral to reproducing position the arm 55 is moved against the upper roller 53 to push the slide 29 rearwardly (for the pivot 49 of the arm 50 is now held stationary by the "abutment" of the sleeve 45 against theframeplate 24). As the slide is so moved rearwardly the sound box is carried therewith and;-boncurrently, the rib 51 is moved off the pin 56 into the relative position thereto'which" it initially had when the device was in recording conditiori Thus, the sound box is shifted forwardlyrelative to. the record and then lowered to place the reproducing stylus 39 into contact with the record.

' 1 As the'control lever is returned from repro-' tion'and then beinglowered as the lever is reend ofthe spring 40 so that the spring may have a greater length. The rearward-portion 'of the verted U-bracket 43 secured'by-a screw'44 to'the cording stylus 38 engages the record 8-. As the slide is "defined by its abutment against an in- 1 rod 21; In this rearward position'of the slide the sound box is in recording position wherein its re-' wardly from the record, thenshifted forwardly across the record and next lowered to bring the I record as isherein' next'described."

Mounted "slidably on; the lowermountin'g' rod reproducing stylus into engagement with the 28 is a'sleeve 45 (Figure 3)which isurged rearwardly by a compression spring 46 on the rod 28 and interposed between a head 45a. on the turned to recording position.

When the sound box is in arearward position with the recording stylus in engagement with the record, the gimbal 3 I" is held centered against "pivotal movement on the pivot 30, to lock the sound box in a centered position against lateral play relative to the record, by pressure of the right side of the gimbal against 9, lug 58 on the 1oracket 43 (Figure 1) and byfpressure of the left side of the gimbal.againstadepending lug 59 on a lateral arm 60' of thefbracket 43,1 (he pressure being provided by the spring 40' acting against the slide '29. When theislide'is-in a forward ,position to place the translating device in reproducing condition, however, the gimbaliisfree' to turn on the pivot 30 to afford the soundlbox a lateral freedom of movement so that itmay' readily track the groove of -a record. a

overlying the sound box'is a biasing weight 6| having two armsf file pivoted-onthe pivots 32. This weight has an. up-and-down freedomv ofv movement relative to the .sound box but is; heldfixed with respect thereto in directions lateral of the record. 'Pivoted between the arms 6| a at 62 is a. lever 63 having a forked end.63a, coupled by a link 64 to the soundbo-x, the-link having a lower forked portion that. straddles the rearward end of thetube 34 and being pivoted thereto at .65. Hinged by a flat; spring 66. to theforward endof the' lever 63:15 a ueshaped. counterweight 61 which straddles the forward portion ofthe. tube 34. I -}r-- When the translating device is. in recording condition .the weight 6| is held in araised ineffective position by the abutment aofxan. uptandins fi r 68. on one of the arms .6la; with a lateral fingeriilron the bracket 43,.(Flgure 1),.

' The counterweight 61, is. now effective to relieve part of the weight ofthe sound box from the record. This is a. desirable result because-it permits the sound box to bexmade of a sturdy construction while not; exceeding the desired biasing pressureof the recording (cutting) stylus further the biasing pressure, or the reproducing stylus on the'record. Thus the function of. the

counterweight 57 is reversed as the ,deviceis shifted. between recordin -and reproducing conditions; Also,. there is the' feature that both biasing weights Gland 6] areat the same side of 'the pivot axis ofithe sound. box as is the sound box itself. This is a. desirable feature in that it tends towards agreater compactness of structure.

Becausethetranslating device positioned above the record the. desired biasingpresjei sureof therespectivestylion the record is ob-x tained from the weights of the sound box and biasing elements 6i and 6.1.v However, it will be understood that. the biasing system which we provide is not necessarily limited tov biasing elements. which are actuated by the gravitational force thereon. 2

In Figures 7 through 12 there is shown another embodiment of ourinvention in which the translating unit of the device is 'mountedgsimi larly to the foregoingv embodiment. This em-= ing '83v provided with collars 84 and. 85; at its ends-l The right collar 85 carries a stud 86 coupled by a link 81 to a hand lever 83 that is pivoted to the right side of the carriage arm 12 (Figure 8).. The left collarw84 carries a roller '89 which acts against a cam face 80' provided on an arm of the bracket 80 to control the feed nut. Since the hand lever 88 is the means for placing the translating device into recording, neutral and reproducing conditions, as 'is hereinafterdescribed; it 'may be referred to as having respective recording, neutral and reproducing positions. In its recording position the roller 89 is free from the cam face 90 and the-feed nutis held engaged with the feed screw. As the hand lever is moved from recording to neutral position the roller is moved against the cam face, into. a detent 90a, to disengage the feed nut, and as the lever 88 is moved forwardlyinto reproducing position the roller is moved free from the cam face to cause the feed nuttobe reengaged. w 2 I The translating device has a ring-shaped frame 92 which seats in the mounting hole 14,.the frame having two holes 93 engaged by screws 94 that thread through the wall of the carriage arm 12 to hold the translating device in place. .The frame 92 has a forward rectangular extension 95 provided at the top with-arearwardly-inclined standard 96. left and right mounting'rod's 9'! and 9111' respectively which extend obliquely through the frame 92 in directions across the record 1'3." Mounted on these rods is a slide 98 having a long bearing on the left rod 91 and a relatively short bearing on the right rod 97a (Figure 8), the right bearing: being short to accommodate a relatively long compression spring SSS-on the right rod. This spring urges the slide rearwardly into terminal position defined by the abutment of the slide against abracket I110 that is secured by screws to the ends of the rods;- 5 f Pivotally'held, by a'pivot stud m tothe'slide IE5 of a channel-shaped housing I06 for a translating unit [01; The housing extends rearwardly bodimentis adapted for installation ina phon-- portion 'il the-carriage' is traversed by and" mounted slidably on asecond cross'rod I1, and atthe rear-of thecarriage there isa feedfscrew 18 for driving the carriage along the record. This. feed screw is engaged releasably by a feed nut 19 carried by a bracket 80 that is pivoted at 8| to the carriage and urged by a spring 82 so as to normallyhold the nut en'gt'iged. the;

cross rod 11 within the carriage thereis 'abushfrom its pivot axis across the record-1'3 and car-;

ries the translating unit at its central portion.-

This unit is, by way of illustration, an electrical one of the crystal type.- It may comprise for lflla'which connect to a pair of'terminals-l 09 that are mounted onan insulating-plate l09'a. This insulating plate is secured to the under side of the end portion I of 'the frame 'HlEMAt the free end of the translatingunit-the housing has a downwardly-inclined nose portion' |06a within which there is a stylus'holder H2 secured to producing styli H3 and H4."

'-The-translating unit will be understood to have lateral freedom of movement about the pivot stud I 0 l and a vertical freedom about the pivots I03; also, it will be observed that the translating.

unit maybe shifted across the record, by moving the slide'98 en the ;-rods BT'and Q'Ia, to bring eitherf'styl us into engagement withthe' record.

Secured to this standard aretwov the crystal' beam and-carrying. recording and re- The translating unitis urged by its own weight:

against the record, but :thisweight is typically greater than is desired for recording when the recording operation is carried out upon a wax like record by-.a cutting action. Accordingly, part of the weight of thextranslating unit is counteractedby a counterbalance weight II5. Also, the vertical pivotal movement of the translating: unit is damped so as'to'prevent undesired vibration of the unit as a whole; Preferably. we obtain this damping by a. sliding frictional con-' tact incurred 'bymovement of theunit onthe pivots; I 03;: We find moreover that the damping is improved when the force of the counterbalance,

weight is. appliedto the translating unit through a spring means. We provide a simple 'andjeffec tivecombinationi of thiszdamping and counterbalancing means by pivoting the weight to the gimbal I02 on an axis I I6 which is parallel to but spacedfrom theiaxis of .thepivots I03 for, the

translating'unit; This-weight is then supported; pivotally by a leaf spring I I! which is secured to.

the end portion I05 of the frame I06 for the translating unit, there being a button I I0 at the bottomof the weight to provide alocalized con-. tact with the spring. Because the pivot axis of the weight is spaced from that of the translating unit, any vertical vibration of the unit will cause the button IIO to slide'on the spring III and introduce a resistance tothat movement. of the translating unit because of the friction of, the sliding contact. This is highly efiective in stabilizing the action of the translating unit.

, It is desired during; reproducing to augment the efiective weight of the translating-unit on the record, and this is done by a weight I I9 mounted on a lever I20 which has two arms pivoted on the pivots I03 respectively. The weight II9 overlies the translating unit and may be released to move into anreffective position wherein it rests on the translating .unit,, and may be raised above the unit into an ineffective position as is hereinafter explained.

The conditioning of thetranslating unit is controlled by a link I2I which connects the collar 84 to the slide 98, thez-link being pivoted at I22 to the collar and having a lost-motion coupling to the slide provided-by a slot I23 on the link and a stud I don the slide whichslidably engagesthe slot. At the rear of the slot the link carriesv apin I25 which controls a lever I26 pivoted at I21 to: the bracket I00:.- This lever is urged upwardly against the pin I25 by a torsional spring I28. Thelever has a V-notch I28a which coacts with a cam edge I04a. on one side I04 of the end portion of the frame IOB.-to center the unit laterally about the pivot MI and to raise the unit from the record. When the hand lever is in recording position the link I2I is in a rear-' recording stylus II3. As the hand lever. 80 is moved to neutral position the link I2I is moved forwardly to release the lever I26 sufiiciently so that it, under influence of thespring I28, will move against the cam I041 and raise the translating unit fron the record. This movement of the'link is howevergnot great enou h to overcome; the lostmotion in its coupling to the slide andi;

Thus; the translating unit rests on the a record with a minimum pressure by way of the;

8. as a; result, the translating unit is not now shifted relative .to therecord also, the weight Il9.is yet held in a 'rais'edposition'as above explained. As

the hand lever 88 is'moved from neutral to re-' producingposition the lever I26 is released slightly further against the end of rod 91 as a stop (Figure 10) and the "slide 98 is moved forwardly to shift the'translating unit across the record;

In response. to this shifting of. the translating unit, the V-camL I040. is moved past the lift lever I26 to lower the translating unit onto the record. By this shifting and'lowering of the translating unit the reproducing stylus is enaged with the record. Also, as an incident 'to the shifting of the unit the lever I20 is moved free from the finger I-29 to lower the weight H9 onto 'the'unit andthus to augment the pressure of the stylus on the record. As the hand lever 88 is returned from reproducing to recording position, the sequenceof operations is reversed: the unit and weight II 9 being raised and shifted rearwardly as the hand lever is moved to neutral position and the unit being lowered but the reproducer: the combination of a frame, a slideon said frame, a translating unit universally pivoted to said slide, a weight universally pivoted also to said slide and movable relative to said translating unit from a resting position thereon into a disengaged ineffective position thereabove, a counterbalance for said translating unit pivotally supported by said weight so as to be eifective only. when saidweight is in disengaged position, means for moving said slideto shift said translating unit between recording and reproduc ing positions, and means controlled by said moving means fordisengagingsaid weight from said translating unit as said unit is placed into recording position and for releasing said weight into a resting position on saidunit as the latter is placed into reproducing position.

I ,2. In5a combined phonographic recording and reproducing ,devicerincluding a universally-pivoted. translating unit, a'biasing member for said unit movable between effective and inefiective' positions,- and means, forrmov'ing said unit between recording andfreproducing positions: the] combination ,of a counterbalance for said unit p votally supported, by saidbiasing member and efiective 'only when the biasing member is .in'; meffectwe position, and means coupledto said.

moving means and operated as said unit is shifted into recordingpositionior moving said biasing.

member to ineffective position and rendering said counterbalance effective, said means being operated as ;said; unit is shifted-into reproducing position to restore said biasing member into efiective position and rendering said counterbalance ineffective. r

3. In a combined recording and reproducing device adapted for coaction with a moving rec-. ord: the combination of a movably-mounted, ren lat eu it bie ed t w rds he record, a bias-.

nem mb bri aidu movable into efiective.

on said unit when-the biasing member is in effective position, and meanscoupling said weight to said unit for counterbalancing partially the biasing force of the against said record when the biasing member is in ineffective position.

4. In a translating device-including a mo'Vablysupported translating unitfadapted for recording on and reproducing from amoving record, said unit being'bias'ed'towards the record: a mechanism for selectively increasing and decreasing the biasing force of said unit on the record comprising a first biasing member mounted for movement relative to said unit and urged into an effective position wherein it increases the biasing force of said unit on the record, and a second biasing member pivotallysupported by said first biasing member and coupled to said unit for decreasing the biasing force of said unit on the record when said first biasing member is held in inefie'ctiveposition. 'f v 5. In a phonographic translating device adapted for selectively recording on and reproducing from a moving record: the combination of a translatingunit biased towards the record; a universal mounting for said unit including a pivot axis parallel to said record and a second 1 pivot axisat right angles thereto; a first biasing member for said unit carried by said universal mounting on said first-mentioned pivot axis, said biasing member being movable between effective and ineffective positions relative to said unit; a

second biasing member pivotally supported by said first biasing member and coupled to said unit for augmenting the biasing force of said first member when the latter is in effective position and for counteracting the biasing force of said unit on the record when said first biasing member is in ineffective position; and means for shifting said unit into recording and reproducing positions relative to the record and for concurrently moving said first biasing member into ineffective and effective positions respectively.

6 In a phonographic translating device adapted for selectively recording on and reproducing from a moving record, including a frame: the combination of a sound box including a diaphragm and recording and reproducing styli mounted on said diaphragm, said sound box being urged by its weight towards therecord; means mounting said sound box on said frame for universal and rectilinear movement; means for rectilinearly shifting said mounting means to place said sound box into recording and reproducing positions relative to the record; a first biasing weight pivotally carried with said sound box for upward movement into an ineffective position and downward movement into an effective position wherein it rests on the sound box; and a counterbalance weight for said sound box pivotally supported by said biasing weight and.

coupled to the sound box for increasing and decreasing the biasing force of the box on the record when said first biasing weight is in effective and ineffective positions respectively.

7 In a phonographic translating device including a frame, a translating unit having recording and reproducing styli mounted on said frame for movement to place said styli selectively into engagement with a record: the combination of a first cam element fixedly mounted on said translating unit, a second cooperating cam element movably mounted on said framef and operable to move said unit from the record;a' control lever for said devi'ce having recording, neutral and reproducing positions in sequence, and means connecting said control lever to said translating unit only within one portion of a range ofmovement of the control lever and connecting the control lever to said second cam element only within another portion of said'ranga-said connecting means being. effective ass'aid lever is moved from recording to neutral position to move said second cam element relative to said first'elemen't to move'sai'dunit from-the record, and said connecting means being effective as said lever is moved from neutral to reproducing position to shift said. unit relative to said second win element. sufficiently to disengage said cam elements from each other whereby to free'the unit for movement against the record.

8. In a combinedrecording' and reproducing device including a'f frame and a translating unit including recording and reproducing styli for selective engagement witha moving record: the

combination of a' mounting on'said frame for said unit adapted to permit the unit to be shifted across the record-to engage said styli selectively with the record, and to be moved towards and away from'the record, means fonshiftingthe unit, means for-ent tling the unit towards and away from-the record, a control memberhavmg recording, neutral and reproducing positions in sequence, means coupling said control member to said shifting means only within the range of movement of the control member between neutral and reproduce positionsfor causing the recorder and reproducer styli to be positioned for engagement with the record respectively when the control lever is in neutral and reproduce positions, and means for operating said moving means by said control member to cause said unit to be on the record when the control member is in record and reproduce positions and away from the record when the control member is in neutral position.

9. In a phonographic translating device: the combination of a frame, a translating unit pivoted to said frame on an axis for movement towards and away from the record and biased towards the record, a cantilever spring connected to said unit, and a counterbiasing means for saidv unit pivoted to said frame on a different axis from that of said unit and bearing slidably against a free end portion of said cantilever spring.

10. In a phonographic translating device including, a frame and adapted for recording on and reproducing from a movingrecord: the combination of a translating unit including record-' ing and reproducing styli, means mounting said unit on said frame for universal pivotal movement and for shifting movement across the record to place said styli selectively into engagement with the record, a control lever having recording, neutral and reproducing positions in sequence, a coupling between said lever and said unit for shifting said unit as the lever is moved from recording and reproducing positions, said coupling including a lost-motion connection which is taken up as the lever is moved from recording to neutral position without shifting the unit across the record, and means controlled by said lever in the movement thereof from recording to neutral positions for removing said unit from the record into reproducing position for restoring said unit onto the record.

11. In a combined recording and reproducing device adapted for coaction with a moving record and including a frame; the combination of a translating unit mounted on said frame for movement into and out of a record-engaging position; a biasing member movably mounted on said frame for movement into an effective position wherein it bears against said unit to increase the pressure thereof against therecord and into an inefiective position wherein it is operatively free of said unit; a counterbalance mounted on said biasing member for movement relative thereto; and means coupling said counterbalance to said unit for rendering the, counterbalance effective to reduce the pressure of the unit on the record only when said biasing member is in said ineffective position. V:

. 12.. In a phonographic translating device adapted for selectively recording on and reproducing from a moving record. including a frame: the combination of a translating unit pivotally connected to said frame and biased towards the record, said unit including recording and reproducing'styli; a movably-mounted control mem:- ber; means having a lost-motion coupling with said unit for shifting said unit across the record to engage selectively said styli with the record only as said control member is moved through one portionjof its movement range; cam means for raising said unit from the record including a first cam element on said unit and a second cooperating cam element movably mounted on said frame;

andymeans operated by said control member as the same is moved through a remaining portion of its range for causing said second cam element to be moved into engagement with said first element to raise said unit" from the record, said shifting means being adapted to disengage said cam elements and return the unit onto the'record as said control member is moved through said one portion of its range.

CHARLES HUENLICIL; 4

HARRIET GRAMANN SCHWARZ Executria: of the Estate of Heinrich F. M

Gmmamz, Deceased.

. 1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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. Dann et al. Mar. 20, 1951 

